Joey Barton has declared "war" on Gary Neville in an expletive-laden podcast rant, launching deeply personal attacks on the Manchester United legend.
The former footballer said "the gloves are off" and claimed Neville had "crossed the threshold" during his latest podcast episode.
Barton made bizarre claims about Neville's marriage, stating: "His wife [Emma] doesn't like him, I've shown you on the video. She's not interested."
He mocked Neville's supposed intimate life, suggesting he approaches marital relations like a football training session, complete with "warm-up" routines and timetables.
Joey Barton tore into Gary Neville on his podcast
YouTube
The tirade included references to Neville's childhood sleeping arrangements and accusations about his personal habits.
Barton also suggested Neville desperately wants a knighthood following David Beckham's honour, predicting increased "a*** licking" from the pundit.
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The feud originated when Barton compared female broadcasters Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West during last season.
ITV condemned his remarks as "contemptible and shameful", stating: "For Joey Barton, an ex-professional player with a significant social media presence, to target two of our pundits, Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, with such vindictive remarks based on gender and to invoke the names of serial killers in doing so is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part."
Neville supported the broadcaster's stance, saying Barton had "gone too far" with his criticism.
The Manchester United legend's defence of his colleagues appears to have triggered Barton's latest outburst, with the former midfielder claiming Neville "piled on" when he was "getting squashed".
Barton's attacks became increasingly personal, mocking Neville's upbringing: "I'm speaking about the fact that you all used to sleep in the same bed when you were kids.
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Gary Neville was targeted by Joey Barton on his podcast
PA
"You, Phil, Tracey, Neville, and your ma all slept in the same bed when you were kids. F***ing weirdos."
He continued with crude speculation about Neville's private habits and appeared to issue threats, saying: "If I see you out in them lad... you are getting terrorised."
The former midfielder claimed Neville was desperate for recognition following Beckham's knighthood: "Imagine how h***y he got when Sir David [Beckham] got the knighthood.
"He wants a knighthood next."
Barton predicted Neville would now engage in excessive flattery to secure honours: "Wait until you see the amount of a*** licking, a*** kissing, he gets up to now Sir David has got one."
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Joey Barton also insisted Gary Neville's wife, Emma Hadfield, 'doesn't like him'
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Neville had originally responded to ITV's statement by referencing his family's experiences with misogyny in football: "My daughters have watched Salford City with me for 10 years and like to comment on football, my mum was kicked out of the football team (boys in the 1960s) and stopped playing due to misogyny, my sister struggled for funding for her sport for years and my brother was mocked when he took over the England women's team."
He added: "I come from a family that has fought these issues for years and I've witnessed it first hand."
Barton had previously threatened to "empty" Neville, warning: "Gary, please keep your head down or you will get emptied as well.
"I know they pay your wages and I don't want to have to put you away."
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